It's no secret, I'm a huge fan of E.M. Hamil's writing, and if you haven't read Dali you need to check it out (Here). But this book is a bit of a diffIt's no secret, I'm a huge fan of E.M. Hamil's writing, and if you haven't read Dali you need to check it out (Here). But this book is a bit of a different beast. Where Dali was Sci-Fi, this story is more Urban Fantasy, but clever fantasy and I've always said: "I'll read anything as long as it's a clever story."
Our heroine is Callie, short for Calliope - a name which should ring bells. In Greek mythology, Calliope was the muse of eloquence and epic poetry, an apt name for our character if you ask me. The very beginning of our tale starts off with Calliope, as she stumbles into a bar while being chased by a banshee, seeking refuge, and she finds that and so much more.
I can't possibly tell you anything more than that, otherwise, it would be a spoiler and I really want you to read this.
What I will tell you, is that every pantheon of gods shows up throughout this book, and the dynamics of who they are, what they've been doing and why they haven't been around are discussed and explained. Brilliant. Utter brilliance. I've read a few similar stories but Hamil has finally come up with a concept that works, is exceptionally told and kept me flipping the pages. And by the way - I might know a thing or two about several pantheons of god (being the pagan sort of lad I am - and having read a good chunk of many myths). The research and knowledge shown in this book regarding the various diety was nothing short of masterful!
I devoured this book in a few quick reading sessions.
But then, how could you not with gleaming passages like these:
"The scarlet cape swirled about him like blood in water as he jumped to his feet."
and
"I may be a few biscuits short of a tin, but I can shoulder my part of the burden."
and my favorite
"A twitch distorted the side of her mouth as the goddess picked up her daiquiri and drained the glass of icy slush in an impressive show of brain-freeze immunity."
Clearly, the muse herself was sitting elbow to elbow with the author when she wrote these lines.
Now for those of you who read my reviews, you've already noted that the books I read have lead characters who are LGBT, and this book drives in the opposite direction, but here's why I made the exception: The secondary main character, Florian, the bartender is Bisexual, and the host of gods and demigods that show up have no qualms about who they select as potential partners.
Seriously? You mean I could have had sex with Ares, God of War? Sigh .
Oh, and a quick "Wow, that's gorgeous!" to whoever did the cover, because it couldn't have been more perfect.
Hamil's book Dali was bloody brilliant, and Nectar and Ambrosia, I dare say, was as good, if not better. Guaranteed from this moment on, I'll be picking up and reading anything E.M. Hamil decides to put words to.
I suggest you do the same!
Merged review:
It's no secret, I'm a huge fan of E.M. Hamil's writing, and if you haven't read Dali you need to check it out (Here). But this book is a bit of a different beast. Where Dali was Sci-Fi, this story is more Urban Fantasy, but clever fantasy and I've always said: "I'll read anything as long as it's a clever story."
Our heroine is Callie, short for Calliope - a name which should ring bells. In Greek mythology, Calliope was the muse of eloquence and epic poetry, an apt name for our character if you ask me. The very beginning of our tale starts off with Calliope, as she stumbles into a bar while being chased by a banshee, seeking refuge, and she finds that and so much more.
I can't possibly tell you anything more than that, otherwise, it would be a spoiler and I really want you to read this.
What I will tell you, is that every pantheon of gods shows up throughout this book, and the dynamics of who they are, what they've been doing and why they haven't been around are discussed and explained. Brilliant. Utter brilliance. I've read a few similar stories but Hamil has finally come up with a concept that works, is exceptionally told and kept me flipping the pages. And by the way - I might know a thing or two about several pantheons of god (being the pagan sort of lad I am - and having read a good chunk of many myths). The research and knowledge shown in this book regarding the various diety was nothing short of masterful!
I devoured this book in a few quick reading sessions.
But then, how could you not with gleaming passages like these:
"The scarlet cape swirled about him like blood in water as he jumped to his feet."
and
"I may be a few biscuits short of a tin, but I can shoulder my part of the burden."
and my favorite
"A twitch distorted the side of her mouth as the goddess picked up her daiquiri and drained the glass of icy slush in an impressive show of brain-freeze immunity."
Clearly, the muse herself was sitting elbow to elbow with the author when she wrote these lines.
Now for those of you who read my reviews, you've already noted that the books I read have lead characters who are LGBT, and this book drives in the opposite direction, but here's why I made the exception: The secondary main character, Florian, the bartender is Bisexual, and the host of gods and demigods that show up have no qualms about who they select as potential partners.
Seriously? You mean I could have had sex with Ares, God of War? Sigh .
Oh, and a quick "Wow, that's gorgeous!" to whoever did the cover, because it couldn't have been more perfect.
Hamil's book Dali was bloody brilliant, and Nectar and Ambrosia, I dare say, was as good, if not better. Guaranteed from this moment on, I'll be picking up and reading anything E.M. Hamil decides to put words to.
New book coming out July 19, 2022 with Rebel Satori's Queer Space Press.New book coming out July 19, 2022 with Rebel Satori's Queer Space Press....more
Full Review to Come. Any book that starts off with a mage pulling a dragon out of his hat, only to have the dragon proceed to eat the audience that is Full Review to Come. Any book that starts off with a mage pulling a dragon out of his hat, only to have the dragon proceed to eat the audience that is watching the magic show has my attention. Yup. That's the opening scene folks.
Memorable.
But this book is exactly that, in so many ways.
Usually in the Sci-Fi/Fantasy realm tales are told with aliens, creatures on new worlds, or in Urban Fantasy you get magic users and occasionally the odd beastie - ghosts, werewolves, demons, angels, the odd elf, or gnome. It's a truly unique read if you are greeted with golems or creatures from legends or urban myths we generally don't see - selkies, manticores, and yuki-ona come to mind.
In Truth to Light, you get it all. And what's more, Newton has managed to string them all together in one consistent tale that explains everyone's existence.
The Great Lie.
Without being all spoilery, I can't very well tell you anything more than this. You. Just. Have. To. Read. This!
What I can tell you is the story centers around Sofia Hernandez. She has a comfortable existence, complete with a lot of modern-day struggles. She may not have a perfect life, but hey - who does? All she knows is she has a devoted wife, a loyal dog, a deceased adopted mother, and an adopted father who tries, but struggles with her transition. We all have our crosses to bear, nothing is truly ever perfect.
And then events unfold that flip everything on its side and what Sofia took to be 'life as we know it', turns out to be nothing but lies. Sofia discovers she is the hidden insurance of one of the most important families on earth. A family who has a seat at the Illuminati table - the secret organization that ensures earth's population remains steadfastly in the dark and follows a strict set of rules. One of the more memorable one: Love only within your own species. Except for the fact that no one really knows that there are many different kinds of species inhabiting the earth.
This journey is one of self-discovery, and understanding what is truth. Are lies okay if it preserves the balance of life? Can we live peacefully knowing what is truth? Is my truth the same as yours?
I can honestly say I have never read a book quite like this. It kept me turning the pages, was uniquely different, illuminating, and fun. Newton creates a spell-binding world, full of fascinating images, and deliciously different takes on well-known creatures. Looking for something completely different? You need to pick this one up.
After all, we all deserve to know the truth, right? But which one? Yours? or mine? ...more
I’m sure that many of you have already guessed that if a story has demons in it, I’m down. In fact, chances are pretty good I’m gonna like it.
Amara LyI’m sure that many of you have already guessed that if a story has demons in it, I’m down. In fact, chances are pretty good I’m gonna like it.
Amara Lynn is a new author to me. If this short is any indication of the fantastical, post-apocalyptic dream-worlds they are capable of creating, SIGN. ME. UP.
The landscape was devastated. The demons were on the prowl, and amidst the chaos and destruction, we have our main character, Rom, half-human, half-angel, who stumbles across Yuli, half-human, half-demon.
There’s a little bit of ‘fated romance’, and after all, the tag line is ‘star crossed lovers’, so if that isn’t your thing, you may not enjoy the instant attraction, but I was game. Here’s why.
I see a lot of people saying, “I don’t go in for that ‘love at first sight’, or ‘fated-romance’ stuff – it’s just not realistic.”
Oh, mon cheri, but it is! It really is. Now, I’ll concede there are times when the “I LOVE YOU” falls out of a character’s mouth too quickly, but I am the first person to tell you that chemistry, synergy, attraction, and lust are often the driving force(s) behind a quick pull, of two people, together.
After all, in my younger, single, carefree days as a young gay man, I was hunting down my next conquest based on those qualities above. So, pooh on all of you who shun the natural forces that enabled me with so many dates – I say – More of it, please.
Now, relationships aside, the magic is interesting but left me wanting more, and with all short stories I find there’s a bit of an element of “Oh, that happened fast.” I would love to see this little short expanded into an entire novel.
Why did the world end? Did the demons do it? Was it, like, biblical? Or just one demon who got super pissed off at their less than equitable pay for a dirty deed? Maybe it was the angels! Damn…did God just have a bad day? Or was it climate change?
See? So many questions. In the end, I think that’s the crux of a good story. It sucks you in, makes you demand more – and even after a week’s passing since I read Rom and Yuli, I can still remember the way Yuli’s wings felt.
Well done Amara Lynn. I will look forward to reading another creation of yours!...more
This tale had me reliving my high school days in the drama club.
The premise of the tale is entirely unique - and unlike anything I've read before, andThis tale had me reliving my high school days in the drama club.
The premise of the tale is entirely unique - and unlike anything I've read before, and even though the book is categorized as Paranormal Romance, I think it belongs in Magic Realism. The existence of souls, and afterlife, and angels is accepted as a part of normal life. The writing is clever, with amazing descriptions and thought provoking conversations - see? Magic Realism!
Basically, Allan and Warwick, our two main characters and soon-to-be lovers, meet an untimely demise, find themselves in the afterlife. The afterlife in Klehr's book is certainly not what I had been expecting, as it was unlike anything I've ever seen or read about heaven! But then, were they in heaven? Or was it purgatory - I honestly am not entirely sure.
The story is centered around Allan. Poor Allan. He comes to the realization that his best buddy of all time, Warren, should have been his lover. And if he couldn't have him as a lover in his most recently past life, he's determined to have him as one in the afterlife.
But as with all good paranormal romance stories, there's obstacles and distractions that occur preventing the couple from getting together. Enter in shenanigans, complete with plots and schemes and perhaps a few love scenes!
The quick one-liners reminded me of my high school and early university days which struck a chord of nostalgia - and sent me down some rather old and forgotten memories of life backstage and those horrendously long rehearsals. There are a lot of clever little nuggets of writing in the novel where I thought "this has got to be a reference to something" and they might have been, but I couldn't put my finger on it. But the descriptions! They are beautifully crafted!
Interestingly, and if you were to stop and think about it - Klehr's afterlife made a lot of sense for as disjointed and weird as I sometimes found it. Folks who have passed end up in this heaven like state wearing the same clothes and speaking the same vernacular as they did at the time of their death. Characters were heavenly (an angel named Guy), from earlier time periods (Samantha from the 1950's), from the present (Allan and Warwick), and even one character from the future.
The premise was quirky, and original.
The book itself didn't completely resonate with me, and I couldn't really figure out why, but in the end it didn't really matter. It's beautifully written with editing and grammar on-point. The characters are odd and unusual, the world building unique and through-provoking.
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes stories of the after-life, self reflection on lives lived, and romance - although it's definitely not the typical romance format!
Watch out for those Stage Lights! And for goodness sake, costuming is everything - as is honesty in admitting your true feelings for those you love, in life, or in death....more
The writing is deliciously descriptive, and there were a lot of concepts to like within this story...but nothing really grabbed me and attach3.5 Stars
The writing is deliciously descriptive, and there were a lot of concepts to like within this story...but nothing really grabbed me and attached me to the characters or with the plot....more
I have to give kudos to Asta Idonea for writing this novel in first person, present tense. As an author, I have aThis was a quick, hot, devilish read!
I have to give kudos to Asta Idonea for writing this novel in first person, present tense. As an author, I have attempted this writing style and failed miserably. There's a certain skill required in telling a story from this perspective, a skill I don't possess.
The story revolves around Saul, a demon from hell, who is a top-notch salesman in obtaining satanic contracts, signed by silly humans willing to give up their souls for an eternity of damnation in exchange for their deepest desire.
A very familiar storyline. And yet, Idonea kept me entertained the entire way through the story by injecting present day realness into the tale. I giggled out loud when Saul exclaims that all demons watch the TV show Supernatural. And in fact, it was required watching. Hilarious - and deeply wonderful, as the TV series antics of demon-hunting brothers Sam and Dean are a regular show at my household.
I was also pleasantly surprised when Saul, the demon, turns to the reader of the story and actively includes them in the narrative. Here's an excerpt just before Tom and Saul are about to have sex, as an example of what I'm talking about:
"While I'm not always adverse to an audience, I don't really want a bunch of comic book superheroes watching. Oh, don't worry, you can stay. I wouldn't send you packing just as things are getting interesting. Not after you've come so far on this journey with me already you sneaky little voyeur, you."
I'm not entirely certain that our inclusion isn't a 'breaking of the fourth wall', but it was a decidedly odd technique to ensure the reader was wrapped up in the story - as we became part of it! It worked well and I loved it - and thinking back, I don't believe I've ever read another story that utilized such a device to include the audience.
It's no secret that I like my dark and creepy stories, but Idonea's version of hell and demons, although dark, and potentially gruesome never truly 'went there' for me. We were given hints as to what hell would be like, and we met a couple of different types of demons, but the focus was on Saul and his decidedly human physical attributes. Throughout the story, we definitely watch his burgeoning humanity as he falls in love with Tom. And I was tickled with the notion that demons love luxury, so the next time you check into the Four Seasons hotel - make sure you're on the lookout for a sexy demon. They should be around in droves.
All in all, this is a great read, a sexy dark temptation of giving up your soul to love....more
2.5 Stars rounded up. This book was suggested to me through the M/M Pick it for Me Challenge. The concepts proposed in this novel intrigued me, unfortu2.5 Stars rounded up. This book was suggested to me through the M/M Pick it for Me Challenge. The concepts proposed in this novel intrigued me, unfortunately, the delivery fell short.
I thought the writer had captured what could have been an incredible story of a Nephilim (Half Human, Half Angel) who was immortal, had lived for 3000 years, and was a submissive slave. Oh, so many possibilities!
Faelon, who had had several different Masters over the course of his lifetime, including a demon, held so much promise - especially when the prospect of his new love/master turns out to be a mortal human!(Albeit, the author has set this up for a potential sequel, and the human may be more than he appears!) See, so much potential!
Except...There were spelling mistakes (actually verb tense issues) which didn't happen often, but enough to rip me out of the story. There were several instances where I think there should have been scene breaks and there weren't which again, left me wondering if I had missed pages?? Nope, I had not. And one instance where the movement in the story was so off, I had to read the section several times to figure out what was going on. In one paragraph the two main characters were sitting in a car, and then throwing vegetables into a shopping cart. Totally confused.
Now, all that seems petty, I know - but the story really focused in on the BDSM aspect of the relationship, which I had no problems with - but at times the sex felt like it was placed into the story just for the prospect of there being sex - not because it progressed the story, or added to the tension, or even progressed the relationship of New Master to 3000 year old Nephilim pain slut.
By the way - Faelon is what I would call a pushy bottom - which had its own humor.
The main character was constantly under the threat of the demon finding him - and he appeared and caused mass destruction - once - and then never appeared again, except in flashbacks or remembering that the demon may have been ever close at hand. UGH...I so wanted more - conflict - confrontation - domination over evil! And it just wasn't there.
I also felt that the characters beyond Faelon and Jax were very two dimensional.
Several references were made to Faelon only being able to consume a liquid diet - but no reasoning as to why - and I think he was also a vegetarian?? But then ate beef broth soup?
If you're looking for a BDSM filled story - this might do it for you. If you're looking for an intelligently written, plot driven M/M Romance, with intriguing interesting characters, intertwined with kinky sex - this is not the book. ...more